Inter prepare loan move for Manchester United striker Lukaku

Inter want to sign Romelu Lukaku on a two-year loan deal with an obligation to sign the Manchester United striker permanently in the summer of 2021, reports The Daily Telegraph.

The Serie A giants have earmarked Lukaku as their top transfer target this summer but are struggling to raise the funds required to complete a deal.

Selling Lukaku is not a priority for United and the Premier League outfit will only sanction his departure if they recoup their full £80m investment.

United are only interested in a cash deal and will not entertain any offers that include the likes of Mauro Icardi and Radja Nainggolan.

Inter are struggling to find any buyers for Icardi and are now looking at alternative ways to sign Lukaku this summer.

Antonio Conte’s side are set to offer United a €10m (£9m) loan fee over the two years before making Lukaku’s stay permanent for a further €60m (£53.7m).

United are expected to reject Inter’s proposal and are well within their rights to demand their full asking price after Inter stood firm in their valuation of Ivan Perisic two years ago.

Lukaku wants to join Inter this summer after hailing Conte as the best manager in the world but United do not expect any problems from the Belgium international if he is forced to stay at Old Trafford.

The 26-year-old has scored at least nine more Premier League goals (28) than any other United player since joining the club two years ago but his performances have divided opinion among supporters.

Lukaku only managed 12 league goals last season - his lowest return in a league campaign in four years - and has dropped below Marcus Rashford in the pecking order under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.